Tubular furniture



Jan. 16, 1968 THOMAS ET AL 3,363,667

TUBULAR FURNITURE Filed April 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l if} u //9 maxim?25/1 2' F BC]. 2

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A T TORNE K Jan. 16, 1968 THQMAS ET AL 3,363,667

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United States Patent 3,363,667 TUBULAR FURNITURE Morton I. Thomas,Baker-town Road, Monroe, N.Y. 10950, and Bertrand R. Lesser, 24Stonewall Laue, Mamaroueck, NY. 10543 Filed Apr. 15, 1965, Ser. No.448,349 Claims. (Cl. 160-327) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Tubular metalfurniture having coverings formed from plastic strips; the terminal endsof the strips being anchored in slot portions of the metal frame Withoutclips or other supplemental anchoring means.

In conventional tubular metal furniture having bent tubular metal frameswith flexible strips or webbing spanning and interconnecting opposedportions of such frames, the terminal ends of the strips or webbing areanchored to the frames by various forms of mechanical fasteners whichmust grip end portions of the strips or webbing and must also engage theframe. Such known fasteners require highly experienced labor in theassembly of the frames and strips or webbing, involve extended assemblyoperations, thus increasing production costs; and still may give rise toincomplete or inferior anchorage of the strips or webbing.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improvedtubular furniture construction wherein strips forming the back or seatof a chair or the like, are self anchored in the tubular frame portionswithout the need for auxiliary fasteners, clasps or the like, therebymarkedly simplifying assembly operations and reducing production costs.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a furnitureconstruction of the character described, an improved system foranchoring the terminal ends of strips on frame members in the absence offasteners or clasps, the strips being of a nature and so related to theframe members as to provide self anchorage thereon yet beingsubstantially proof against inadvertent separation of the strips fromthe frame members.

Other objects of this invention in part are obvious and in part willhereinafter be pointed out.

Summary of the invention The instant invention relates to tubularfurniture having slotted frame portions for receiving the terminal endsof flexible strips or webbings forming the seat and back portionsthereof; the strip ends being sharply bent at the ends of the edges ofthe slots in the frame while the intermediate portions of the strip aretensioned so as to coact with the bent strip ends to anchor the samewithout the need for supplemental clips or the like.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a chair of the tubular metal frame type,which incorporates means for anchoring strips forming the back and seatthereof in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a single plastic strip used in covering framessuch as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the strips in anchored relation to opposedframe members;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the anchored end of a stripin relation to a frame member;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are plan views showing alternative terminal end forms forstrips embodying the invention;

3,363,667 Patented Jan. 16, 1968 FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar tothat of FIG. 4, showing an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Whereas in tubular frame furniture having webbing or strips forming theseat and back portions thereof, are conventionally anchored on the frameby means of various fasteners and clasps; the instant inventioneliminates the need for any fasteners or clasps and permits the stripsto be self anchored at their ends in slots formed in the frame members.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, 10 designates a typical tubular frame piece offurniture, such as a chair; the same being formed of bent metal tubingto provide a back portion 11, a seat portion 12, as well as legs 13, 14and arms 15. Such chair may be of the folding type, having conventionalpivoted connections to allow the several portions thereof to becollapsed to a compact form, all in a manner well known in the art.

Back portion 11 may comprise a single piece of bent light metal tubingof circular cross section with parallel, opposed elongated frameportions 16, 17 and an interconnecting frame portion 18. Similarly, seatportion 12 may also be formed from a single piece of bent tubing havingopposed frame portions 16, 17 and a forwardly disposed interconnectingportion 18A.

The frames forming back portion 11 and seat portion 12, are completed bymeans of transversely extending, parallel plastic strips 19 extendingbetween and anchored at their opposite ends to frame portions 16, 17.The strips 19 are formed of extruded plastic materials such as polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, vinylidene chloride, orthe like. Such strips may have cross sectional configurations ofselected geometric form, and for the purpose of illustration, is shownin FIG. 3 of substantially elliptical section with curved surfaceportions 20, tapering toward side edges 21.

The strips 19 while flexible, have a degree of stilfness, with a maximumthickness at midsection of about /s" and preferably not less than aboutA their width being as desired, and typically of the order of from about1" to about 1 /2. While the strips 219, as shown in PEG. 2 have oppositeterminal end sections 22, 22A of substantially keystone shape, for thepurpose hereinafter described; the strips may have other terminal endedge configurations, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, the opposed tubular frame portions 16, 17; whichmay be part of seat or back portions of a chair or the like, are formedwith a plurality of longitudinally spaced, elongated slots 23 in the topwall portion 24 of said frame portions, said slots 23 being convenientlylocated immediately to one side of the vertical section lines of saidframe portions 1'6, 17. Said slots 23 are adapted to receive therein theterminal end sections 22, 22A of strips 19 as said strips span andinterconnect frame portions 16, 17.

The strips 19 have normal, unstretched length somewhat less than thedistance between a pair of laterally aligned slots on frame portions 16,17 plus a dimension somewhat greater than twice the outercircumferential extent of a single frame portion 16 or 17. Such strips19 can be longitudinally stretched at room or elevated temperatures toachieve a temporary increase in length, but will revert to their normallength upon removal of stretching tension. This is due to the memorycharacteristic of the plastic materials from which the strips areformed.

Accordingly, with frame portions 16, 17 at a fixed distance from eachother, strips 19 are mounted on said frame portions in anchored relationthereto, as follows. The terminal end 22 of a strip 19 is inserted intoa slot 23 on frame portion 16, the shoulders 25 on the keystone portion22 providing means for determining the approximate length of strip endto be inserted into said slot 23. The slot 23 has a length which willreadily admit strip end section 22 at shoulder portions 25 thereof.

The portion 2 6 of strip 19 immediately adjacent to strip end section 22, is then wrapped clockwise about tubular wall 27 of frame portion 16,thereby forming a sharply bent transverse crease or edge 28 whichengages lateral edge 29 of slot 23; the interiorly disposed end section22 being deflected away from slot edge 29, as shown in FIG. 5. Theintermediate portion 30 of strip 19 is then extended toward frameportion 17 and stretched longitudinally, either at room temperature orafter being heated somewhat, by suitable stretching means, not shown, tothereby temporarily lengthen strip 19 to allow the terminal end portion22A thereof to be inserted into a slot 23 on frame portion 27.

To this end, the strip portion 26A is wrapped about tubular wall 27A offrame portion 17, in a clockwise direction; to allow the strip endsection 22A to be inserted into slot 23 on frame portion 17, forming asharply bent transverse crease or edge 28A in the strip 19 which engageslateral edge 29A of slot 23, the strip end 22A being deflected outwardlyof slot edge 29A within frame member 17.

The tension on strip 19 is then released to permit the same to contractand to thus tend to restore itself to its normal, original length.However, residual tension will be retained by contracting strip 19 dueto its normal, untensioned length being somewhat less than the distancebetween slots 23 in frame portions 1 6, 17 plus the wrap around portions26, 26A of said strip.

Thus, the intermediate portion 30 of strip 19 will be under substantialtension and portions 31 at the junction of intermediate portion 30 andwrap around portions 26, 26A. will tightly bear on the bent edgeportions 28, 28A of strip 19. It has been found that under such tensionconditions and with bent edge portions 28, 2 8A tightly engaging theslot edges 29, 29A respectively, the terminal ends 22, 22A will be wellanchored on frame portions 16, 17. Thus, with each of the strips 19mounted in pairs of laterally related slots 23 on frame portions 16, 17there will be provided completed seat and back portions for chair 10.

Furthermore, despite temporary elongation of strips 19 when weight orpressure is applied to the same, as when one sits on chair 10, uponremoval of such weight or pressure, the anchorage of strips 19 on frameportions 16, 17 is maintained, even as the strips contract to theirtensioned condition. The shoulders 25 on strip end sections 22, 22A havea tendency to hook under the end edges 32 of slots 23, further avoidinginadvertent pull out of the strip end portions from said slots.

While strips 19 are shown with terminal end sections 22, 22A of keystoneshape; the strips have end sections of other edge configurations, asshown in FIG. 7, where strip 19A has parallel side edges 35 andtransverse edge 36; or in FIG. where strip 19B has tapered edges 37 andrecesses 28 to mark the extent of insertion of the same into slots 23 offrame portions 16, 17. It is understood that the length of slots 23 isadjusted to admit the selected strip end configuration.

While, as shown in FIG. 4, the slots 23 are located top wall portions 24of frame portions 16, 17 so as to insure that strip portions 26, 26Awill have a wrap around relative to tube walls 27, 27A of a full 360, ithas been found that slots 23 may be so located on top wall portions 24of the frame portions 16, 17 as to provide a wrap around of stripportions 26, 26A, which may be somewhat less than 360, see FIG. 9. Theanchorage of strip ends 22, 22A in slots 2-3 will still be satisfactoryand devoid of inadvertent release of strip ends from their slots inframe portions 16, 17.

It is understood that the spacing between anchored strips 19 may bevaried as desired; and the strips may be used to span any pair oftubular frame members held in fixed displaced relation to each other andanchored thereto in accordance with the instant invention, for anyselected purpose.

As various changes might be made in the embodiments of the inventionherein disclosed, without departing from the spirit thereof, it isunderstood that all matter herein shown or described, shall be deemedillustrative and not by way of limitation, except as set forth in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a furniture construction comprising tubular framing having opposedelongated tubular frame portions, covering means between andinterconnecting said frame portions, said covering means comprising aplurality of plastic strips extending at their opposite ends to saidframe portions, means for anchoring terminal end portions of said stripson said frame portions, said anchoring means comprising a plurality oflongitudinally spaced slots on said frame portions, each slot on oneframe portion being laterally aligned with a corresponding slot on theother frame portion, each plastic strip having its terminal end portionsin flat planar form respectively inserted into a pair of opposed slotson said frame portions and projecting interiorly of said frame portions,the terminal end portions of said strip being sharply bent along atransverse edge at a point spaced from the ends of said strip, thecreased edge portions of said strip engaging an outer transverse edge ofsaid slots in the frame portions, the strip portion immediately adjacentthe terminal end portion at each end of said strip being wrapped aroundone of said frame portions over approximately a 360 peripheral extentthereof, the intaermediate portion of said strip between said wrappedstrip portions eing under longitudinal tension whereby to tightly engageand anchor the terminal end portions thereof within said slots in theframe portions.

2. A furniture construction as in claim 1 wherein said end portionsinclude sections of the strip adjacent the terminals thereof disposedinteriorly of said frame portions, said sections being angularlydeflected in a direction away from said edge of the slot of said tubularframe portion.

3. A furniture construction as in claim 1 wherein the intermediate stripportion includes a portion overlying and tightly engaging the sharplybent edge portion of said strip.

4. A furniture construction as in claim 1 wherein said strips includemeans along side edge portions thereof at the terminal ends thereof tomark the extent of the terminal end portions to be inserted into theslots in said tubular frame portions.

5. A furniture construction as in claim 4 wherein the means on the edgeportions of said strips comprises shoulder means engageable with endedges of said slots.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,622,663 12/1952 Burd 37l2,910,068 10/1959 Lane l29-1 3,021,176 2/1962 \Eads et a1. 297-4523,084,739 4/1963 Jaworski 24-2653 3,202,375 8/ 1965 Dinkin 242743,231,008 1/1966 Seckel 160327 HENRY C. SUTI-I E-RLAND, PrimaiyExaminer.

G. W. HORNADAY, Assistant Examiner.

